Phyllo pastry stuffed with chicken and leeks

BT Toronto | posted Tuesday, Nov 12th, 2013

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Phyllo pastry stuffed with chicken and leeks

Ingredients:

• 1 roasting chicken, cooked
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Fresh cracked pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 5 cups white button and Cremini mushrooms, quartered
• Fresh thyme, chopped
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ cup white wine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 leeks, white and pale green parts, thinly sliced
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Method:

1. Remove the skin from the roasting chicken and discard. Remove the meat from the bones and chop into small pieces.  Transfer to a large bowl and season with oregano and fresh cracked pepper. Set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the mushrooms, thyme and a pinch of salt.  Once the mushrooms start to release liquid, add the wine. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the all of the liquid has evaporated.  Remove from heat and transfer to the bowl with the chicken.
3. Heat the olive oil in the same saucepan over medium heat.  Add the shallot, leeks and pinch of salt.  Cook until the shallots and leeks are soft, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and transfer to the bowl with the chicken.  Set aside to cool.
4. Add the crumbled feta cheese to the cooled filling and mix.  Your filling is now complete and ready to be added to the phyllo pastry.
5. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a small saucepan over low heat.  Remove from the heat and skim away any foam.  Use only the clarified butter and avoid the white milk solids that have settled on the bottom of the pan.
6. Gather two of the phyllo sheets and cover the remaining sheets with a damp cloth to avoid drying out.  Lay the two sheets of phyllo along the bottom of a 9-x13-inch (33×23 cm) shallow baking dish.  Allow the sheets to overlap in the center of the pan and the excess to hang over the sides of the pan.  Brush the sheets lightly with some of the melted butter.  Arrange another six sheets of phyllo in the same manner, brushing each sheet with melted butter.  Add the filling and spread it evenly in the pan.
7. Gather the excess phyllo pastry hanging over the sides of the pan and fold over to enclose the filling.  Brush each layer with melted butter.  Lay the remaining two layers of phyllo pastry on the very top and allow the phyllo to wrinkle and fold to create a ruffled top. Brush with melted butter.  Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
8. Remove from the refrigerator and lightly sprinkle the top of the pastry with water.  Place in the middle of a preheated oven and bake at 350°F (180°C) until golden brown and crispy, about 45 minutes.  Cut into serving pieces and serve warm or cold.

Courtesy 3 Greek Sisters